Posts Tagged ‘Science fiction’

Terra Nova’s 2 hour season finale , Occupation/ Resistance airs tonight@ 8;00pm on FOX[ USA] and City TV [Canada]. In order to promote the finale, FOX has released the first 8 minutes of the finale on its Facebook page.The feature covers the events leading up to the arrival of the eleventh pilgrimage as well as the mysterious phoenix group led by Lucas[ Asheley Zuckerman].

Check the first 8 minutes out @ .https://www.facebook.com/TerraNovaonFOX?sk=app_259720184087928. In order to view the feature, you must first “like” the official Terra Nova page.

Afterwards, sound off in the comments section with your initial impressions on the finale with us and comment on your speculations

Take a read through FOX’s official episode synopsis and the promotional features for tonight’s episode of Terra Nova, entitled Nightfall. The episode will air @ 8:00pm eastern standard time on FOX[USA] and City TV[Canada]

Episode Synopsis:Airs: MON 8/7c NOV 7

On the Next Episode of TERRA NOVA…

A crashing meteor wipes out all technology and wreaks havoc on the colony. Meanwhile, Maddy and Reynolds are stuck out in the wilderness, Elisabeth and Skye work together to save a life, and Taylor tries to prevent Mira and the “Sixers” from invading Terra Nova. Also, a mystery man makes his presence known[FOX]

Will technology be restored to the camp? Will Maddy and Reynold’s be able to return to the camp and will they encounter the Sixers as they attempt to? What are your thought’s on Mira’s plan to use a dinosaur to break through to Terra Nova and will she be succesful? How exactly will she overthrow Taylor and will she use Josh to help achieve her goals, as she requires of him in order to recruit Kara? How will Taylor manage to defend the colony without technology? Share your thoughts, speculations and hopes for this episode in the comments section!

What thoughts or speculations do you have for this episode?What do you think about Taylor;s decision to exile the alleged murderer and what thoughts do you have on the criteria used to assess guilt? Also, what are your thoughts on how Taylor makes the final decisions? Do you think this speaks to Mira’s comments in the previous episode about Taylor pissing off some powerful people in 2149? What do you hope/ predict about how Elizabeth and Zoe’s efforts will turn out with the anklosarus?

Abbas Karimjee’s Weblog has now launched its coverage on Fox’s new fall series, Terra Nova!Read below ,for information on the show’s concept. This post will be updated weekly to provide promotional information on the next episode. Also, stay tuned for additional posts regarding news and media coverage for the show’s current season.

TERRA NOVA, the new family adventure drama series executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, Peter Chernin, Brannon Braga and David Fury, will preview in May 2011 on FOX prior to its series premiere in the fall.

Jason O’Mara (“Life on Mars”) has been cast in the lead role of JIM SHANNON, the patriarch of the show’s central family. As previously announced, Emmy Award winner Alex Graves (FRINGE) will direct the pilot, and Emmy Award-winning executive producer and director Jon Cassar (“24”) has joined the series as an executive producer and series director.

“TERRA NOVA will be one of the most visually stimulating and dramatically grand series to air on network television,” said Kevin Reilly, President of Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “It deserves to have an equally unique launch to distinguish that the show is unlike any other, and the spring promotional platform will give us the perfect opportunity to introduce this bold show to audiences.”

TERRA NOVA, an epic family adventure 85 million years in the making, follows an ordinary family embarking on an incredible journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a massive experiment to save the human race. In the year 2149 the world is dying. The planet is overdeveloped, overcrowded and overpolluted. Knowing there is no way to reverse the damage to the planet, a coalition of scientists has managed to open up a fracture in the space-time continuum, creating a portal to prehistoric Earth. This doorway leads to an amazing world, one that allows for a last-ditch effort to save the human race…possibly changing the future by correcting the mistakes of the past.

The series centers on the Shannon family as they join the tenth pilgrimage of settlers to TERRA NOVA, the first colony of humans in this second chance for civilization. JIM SHANNON (O’Mara), a devoted father with a checkered past, guides his family – wife ELISABETH and children JOSH and MADDY – through this new land of limitless beauty, mystery and terror. In addition to blue skies, rolling rivers and lush vegetation, TERRA NOVA offers new opportunities and fresh beginnings to its recent arrivals, but the Shannons have brought with them a familial secret that may threaten their citizenship in this utopia. These adventurers soon discover that this healthy, vibrant world is not as idyllic as it initially appears. The areas surrounding TERRA NOVA are filled with dangerous dinosaurs and other prehistoric threats, as well as external forces that may be intent on destroying this new world before it begins.

Actress Jennifer Spence has been leading a distinguished career as a Canadian actress,having played the recurring role of the brilliant yet chatty scientist, Dr. Lisa Park in Syfy’s Stargate Universe.

With SGU having recently drawn to a close after two seasons and Jennifer being kind enough to participate in a interview with us, we decided to take the opportunity to discuss playing the role of Lisa Park, the actress’ experience in interacting with fans as well as her favourite episode of Stargate Universe. We also discuss what Jennifer’s reaction to SGU’S cancellation has been and the factors which she thinks contributed to the show’s end. We also discuss the actress thoughts on what her hopes for Dr. Park’s relationship with Sergeant Ronald Greer [Jamil Walker Smith] were as well as her thoughts on the future of the Stargate franchise.

Jennifer also talks about her recent work on a feature film with her finance entitled, Down River and the actress discusses her role on anAmerican documentary series, Exes & Ohs and her hopes for the show’s future as well as her work on a recent pilot presentation supervised by SGU’S Visual effects Supervisor,Mark Savela.

Abbas Karimjee:Were you a fan of Science fiction prior to being appointed the role of Dr. Lisa Park and how familiar were you with the Stargate franchise, in particular?

Actress Jennifer Spence as Dr. Lisa Park

Jennifer Spence: I always fear answering this question cuz I hadn’t been a fan of science fiction prior to Stargate to be honest! But SGU proved to me that it was possible for science fiction to be moving, funny and realistic – everything that I ever wanted as an actor in order to tell a story of what it means to be a human being..

AK: How did you relate to the character of Park ?

JS: I related a lot to her nerdiness, her desire to do the right thing and her need to prove herself.

AK: What challenges were associated with portraying the character of Dr. Park and how did you overcome this?

JS:I think the biggest challenges associated with playing her had to do with the sex scenes I did in season 1 – always a bit nerve-wracking but ultimately fun to do! Also in “Blockade” as part of the fire and water in the dome sequence, I had to put my head under water while still in my space suit helmet and water would always seep in. So I had to keep myself submerged as long as I could during a take while water filled my helmet! Fear of drowning was definitely with me but knowing I could just stand up at any time and open up the helmet was what allowed me to overcome the challenge. Bam Bam (stunt coordinator extraordinaire) also talked me through it and made me realize I was in control.

AK:How do you think the character of Lisa Park has developed over the course of the series and what aspirations did you have for the character?

JS:I was so happy to see the aspirations I had for her actually come into play over the 2 seasons! I think she came more and more into her own and found her own strength of character and value as an individual and as a team-mate. She proved her worth to both herself and others.

AK. What was your favourite episode of SGU and why?

JS:I can honestly say I’ve loved every episode and each for different reasons – part of the excellence of the whole team we had. One episode that I think is one of the best hours of TV you’ll ever see is “Epilogue”. When we got this script (penned by the fabulous Carl Binder) we knew how incredible it was and also how ambitious it was but the whole team far exceeded all expectations and created this mini-movie of sorts that left me sobbing in the way that the last episode of Six Feet Under left me sobbing! Just because it all comes down to that same basic stuff: love, connection, family, friendship, leaving your mark, faith, action, survival, doing your best, the journey of being a human being.

AK: Science Fiction fans have been known for their great passion and loyalty towards genre entertainment. What have been the various ways in which you have connected with fans and could you please, briefly describe your experience in interacting with the fandom?

JS:Science fiction fans are the best! They’ve all been so supportive of us and the show and I’ve loved chatting with them on Twitter and seeing them when we did the Innerspace special on Space channel and on Canada AM. After the last episode of season 2 aired, fans of the show tweeted hundreds upon hundreds of standing ovations. I was blown away by that. I’m really looking forward to meeting more of these folks in person when I go to some conventions. First up Starcon!

AK: Back in December, Syfy announced the cancellation of Stargate Universe, once the show concludes in its current second season:What was your reaction when you discovered that the series had been cancelled and why do you think SGU was unable to attract the audience needed for the series to continue? What was your perspective on the decision of the producers to have SGU take the Stargate franchise in a new direction, with a strong emphasis on character relationships and survival?

JS: My reaction when I heard we got cancelled was shock then anger then grief. I remember Patrick Gilmore and I were chatting on the phone right after I heard and we were commiserating on experiencing the feeling one gets when a relationship ends. Denial. Anger. Negotiation. Etc.

I don’t think I can ever fully know why the show was unable to attract the audience it needed for the series to continue. I do know it wasn’t a question of quality – that’s for sure. I think the biggest factor that influenced the numbers was when we got moved from Friday nights to Tuesday nights on the weekly TV schedule for season 2. We then had to compete with loyal, long-time viewers of “Dancing With the Stars” and “Glee” and so I think a lot of folks either missed SGU altogether and downloaded it later or PVR’d it. Either which way weren’t favorable to our ratings. It’s unfortunate because the Nielsen ratings system is no longer an accurate ratings assessment in this day and age with the way technology is. But my understanding is that it is still the predominant way of the industry.

I’m glad and grateful the producers and writers took the Stargate franchise in a new direction with SGU. Relationships, character and survival are what it’s all about for me and they created an outstanding show that will stand the test of time.

AK:With SGU having been cancelled as a TV series, Brad Wright engaged in a series of negotiations for SGU to continue on either in the form of a TV movie or as miniseries. At a recent convention in Chicago ,Wright reported that the negotiations were unsuccessful. What was your reaction to this and what do you think is in store for the future of the Stargate franchise? Do you think it will be revived at a later time. Why or why not?

JS:I was really grateful to Brad for his efforts. As I’m sure you’ve heard already, the SGU team is a family so we were all eager to work together again. I was really disappointed to hear the movie wasn’t a go but I still have this faith that we will all work together again in some form or another. I think the Stargate franchise will continue to be successful with DVD sales and like I said before, SGU will stand the test of time. I don’t know if there will be a revival. That’d be awesome but we just can’t know that at this time.

AK:In the final season, Dr. Park further develops a romantic relationship with Sergeant Ronald Greer, while being unaware of Dr. Volker’s romantic feelings toward her. Who would you have preferred to see Park with and why? What are your thoughts on who she may have ended up with, had SGU continued?

JS: I think I would have liked to continue to watch her relationship with Greer evolve just because they were so different yet like most everyone else in this world simply wanted love and intimacy. I thought it was also a nice symbol of the possibility of harmony between the 2 different camps: military and civilian.

AK:Reflecting on your experience as a cast member of SGU, could you please share some of your favourite memories of working on the show, either from on screen or off?

Shooting SGU’S season 2 episode , Malice in the deserts of New Mexico was one of the most thrilling acting experiences for Jennifer Spence

JS:Aw man, there are too many to list! I think one of the biggest thrills I got was when we got to travel to New Mexico to shoot “Malice.” Not only were we in the most beautiful surroundings and getting to experience some life experience/travelling on the side but I was so happy to have a close scene with Bobby. My parents have always been huge fans of his as have I and so the fact that I was acting with Bobby Carlyle in the desert was just so effing awesome!AK:What message would you like to convey to viewers of the series, with SGU having drawn to a close?

JS:Sounds cheesy but gratitude. Gratitude and love to all the viewers and fans for joining us and supporting us on this journey. So glad they enjoyed watching it as much as we enjoyed making it. We’re proud of the show and it means so much to know it has been appreciated.

AK. Have you been working on any other acting projects which you would like to share with viewers and what aspirations do you have for the future?

JS: I’ve been working on a feature film with my fiancé called “Down River” which has been a hugely inspiring and creatively satisfying experience http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/reelman/archive/2011/03/21/memories-are-made-of-this.aspx

In terms of the future I would love for another show I did called “Exes & Ohs” to get a 3rd season. The 2nd season will air in the USA June 29th. Stay tuned for details! Besides that, I would like to continue playing roles that challenge me in the best ways possible. I recently shot a presentation pilot called “Echoes” created by the brilliant team of Mark Savela (visual effects supervisor on SGU) and Ken Kabatoff (production assistant on SGU and independent film producer/writer/director) that did just that. I play a woman who is forced by circumstances to become a strong, solid leader and it feels awesome to take the journey with her and stretch myself. I’m super excited about it and we’re hopeful of it getting picked up by a network. It was fun too to have all these scenes with the dreamy and talented Mike Dopud (Varro on SGU)! Most of the team that worked on it were SGU crew so it was wonderful to be surrounded by family once again. http://www.gateworld.net/news/2011/05/savela-sgu-vets-pitching-new-sci-fi-series-echoes/

Actor,Patrick Gilmore has been leading a distinguished career as a Canadian actor ,having appeared in various Science fiction series such as Battlestar Galactica and Eureka.Patrick’s most recent role within the science fiction genre involves the astrophysicist,Dale Volker on Syfy’sStaragate Universe.

With Patrick being kind enough to participate in an interview with us and Stargate Universe having just concluded its run after its two seasons,we take the opportunity to discuss the character of Dale Volker and the challenges involved in portraying the character,Patrick’s experience in interacting with the fandom ,his reaction to SGU’s cancellation and the actor’s view on the factors which led to the cancellation. Patrick also shares his thoughts on the suitability of SGU’s finale, Gauntlet as an end to the short-lived series, his thoughts on the future of the Stargate franchise and much more!

We also learn of Patrick’s experience working on AMC’s new Drama series, The Killer as well as well as his aspirations for the future of his acting career.

Abbas Karimjee: In addition to having played in other science fiction series such as Battlestar Galactica and Eureka , as well as having aired in Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis. Were you a fan of Science Fiction prior to gaining experience in genre entertainment and how did your previous experience both in genre entertainment and Stargate in particular impact your performance as Dale Volker?

Patrick Gilmore:Admittedly I was not a SciFi fan. Not that I didn’t enjoy SciFi movies, I just wasn’t one to actively search out the genre. I was a child of the late 70s, early 80s, so Star Wars was prominent in my imagination. I enjoyed the original Star Trek movies and I did see Stargate in theaters twice. The feel of Stargate Universe to me was less SciFi and more Character Drama reacting to SciFi. So I was comfortable going in, having not been influenced. It felt more real & relatable that way.

AK: How did you relate to the character of Volker?

PG:I loved getting a script and seeing that Volker had a smart-ass remark or diffused a situation with an offhand joke. I’d see that and say “That is so my voice.” And, for the most part, it was. The writers, having gotten to know us as actors and people, were able to write in our voice. Humor is something I fall back on when things get awkward…it became the same with Volker.

AK:How do you think the character of Volker has evolved over the course of the show and what aspirations did you have for the character?

PG: Like with all the characters, Volker found his place and role on Destiny. He began the journey uncertain of where he would fit in and unsure of how to deal with unstable authority (Rush). By the end Volker was a leading member of the science team, the go-to navigator on the Bridge and was able to hold his own against Rush. I would have liked to have seen his journey continue that way, but for the sake of good story telling it would have been fun to see him get knocked down a few times.

AK:What aspect of Volker was the most challenging and how did you cope with this challenge?

PG:It was tough to negotiate the relationship he had with some of the military, especially in Season 1. In such circumstances he would have become friends with many of the people on board but given the attempted coup those relationships would have become murky. But as the story progressed, those connections became clearer. As an actor, the science was challenging at times. But thanks to Wikipedia & Writer/Producer Carl Binder’s astrophysicist daughter…I was covered.

AK: Science Fiction fans have been known for their great passion and loyalty towards genre entertainment. What have been the various ways in which you have connected with fans and could you please, briefly describe your experience in interacting with the fandom?

PG: David Blue introduced me to Twitter early in the first season of SGU and two years later I’m a full on addict. It’s like theater, instant feedback. It’s also a great creative outlet and now my news source too. My fan interaction, for the most part, has been humbling. I’m still trying to make sense of it all and manage my reaction, but I hope I never get used to it, because then I’ll think it’s normal. (That’s a piece of advice Lou Diamond gave me.)

AK:Back in December, Syfy announced the cancellation of SGU once the current second season draws to a close. What was your reaction when you discovered that the series had been cancelled and why do you think SGU was unable to attract the audience needed for the series? What is your perspective on the direction which the producers took with SGU, by placing an initial emphasis on establishing the background of the show’s characters as well as the initial emphasis on survival?

PG:I, of course, was heartbroken to hear of the cancellation. We had a lot riding against us but I had convinced myself that loyalty to the franchise and the superior quality of the show would ensure at least a third season. There are so many factors involved in the number of viewers that tuned in live to give us such low ratings. But what we have to start taking into consideration is the changing viewing habits of people. I’ll use me as an example…In the last two years I have stopped renting movies, I have stopped buying DVDs and get all my movies from iTunes & I never, EVER, watch TV shows live. Thanks to DVR I wait till all my favorite shows have piled up and I watch 5 straight hours of Fringe or Community. The ratings that contributed to the cancellation of SGU do not take any of these things into account. The rating system is archaic and is ruining TV.

As far as the direction the writers took SGU…I never watched SG1 & SGA, but SGU was a show I would have loved as a casual TV viewer. It showed the incredible range of Brad Wright & Rob Cooper as artists. It was the right move and I don’t think they would have changed a thing.

AK: This season, Volker showed signs of his affection for Lisa Park. What do you think drew him to Dr. Park and what do you think of their suitability for each other? Would you have preferred that the two develop a romantic relationship, had SGU continued and what challenges would you foresee in having this actually transpire?

Gilmore was hoping to see Drama ensue with further development of the love triangle between Volker, Park and Greer, had SGU been renewed for a third season

PG:Early in Season 1, Director Peter DeLuise gave us a note as secondary cast members to create our relationships with the other crew members. When he said “maybe one of you is in love with Lisa Park” as an example, Peter Kelamis and I both took that note to heart, as a “friendly” competition. So when the script started to hint at a possible connection between Volker & Park I was quick to throw that in Kelamis’ face. Aside from her love of the military, I think they’d be a great match. If there had been a Season 3 there would have been some great drama with Park, Volker & Greer, given that Volker regards Greer as a brother after the Kidney transplant. I would like to think that Dale & Lisa ended up together, but, again, for the sake of good story telling, it would have been cool to see him sacrifice himself to save Ronald & Lisa maybe.

AK:With the series finale, Gauntlet, approaching in the coming week, could you please give us a brief idea of what is in store for the conclusion of the series, both for the crew and the character of Dale Volker, in particular? How suitable of an end do you think the finale will be to the series?

PG:By the time you read this the SGU finale will have aired. All of us in Stasis Pods and Eli on the observation deck. I watched it live, I teared up when Volker stepped into his pod and immediately texted David Blue the moment the show ended. That last scene was brilliant. Alone, Eli looks out at the stars in wonder and his expression changes to a smile because, as he told his mom, he’s happy. But then, quietly his face shows the slightest hint of apprehension. And then Destiny leaves us behind. Beautiful, poetic. Not the ideal ending, but our future is left to the imagination of the audience.

AK Once the news of SGU’s cancellation had been released, producer, Brad Wright began a series of negotiations with MGM in an effort to have SGU continue either in the form of a movie or miniseries. Though Wright recently announced at a Vancouver convention that these negotiations were unsuccessful, what are your thoughts on the future of the franchise? Do you think Stargate will be revived at some point? Why?

PGThere is no doubt Stargate will be back. It’s a brand. It’s a money-making franchise. Above all else, Stargate is a really cool concept. One day, years from now, someone will have an idea to restart the story and we’ll have another generation of Stargate fans.

AK:What message do you have for fans of the series, as SGU draws to a close?

PG:I really can’t think of anything more profound to say other than “Thank you.” Their support has been humbling and I feel honored to have been a part of something that so many people love.

AK:- What other acting projects have you been working on, which you would like to share with viewers and what aspirations do you have for the future of your acting career?

PG:Since the end of SGU I’ve kept busy with other projects. “The Killing” on AMC has been my most notable work. It’s one of the best shows on TV right now and I feel once again that I’ve lucked out with my involvement in such a high quality show. I’d like to continue to find fun work environments and roles that will make my fans say “I didn’t even recognize him.” All the while I’ll be on Twitter,keeping people posted and saying irreverent & sometimes inappropriate things… @PatrickGilmore

Indeed the cast of Stargate Universe have much to be proud of after its recent accomplishment at the 25 annual Gemini Awards on November 13 2010. The series’ lead actor, Robert Carlyle was bestowed with the award for the Best Performance By An Actor in A Continuing Leading Dramatic Role. Carlyle received this award for his performance of his lead role on Stargate Universe as Dr. Nicholas Rush on series inaugural season episode, Human.

The Gemini awards, of-course, are the annual television broadcasting awards for the Canadian film and television industry

Best Original Music Score for a Program or SeriesJoel Goldsmith – “Light”

Congratulations are extended to Robert Carlyle for his outstanding achievement and to the rest of the cast and crew of Stargate Universe. Recognition from the Gemini Awards is a huge accomplishment which deserves great celebration!

Indeed the cast and crew of Stargate Universe appeared on CTV’S Canada AM this past Friday. During the appearance, they discussed the latest gemini nominations which the series received, their experience in playing their roles and the success of Stargate Universe, the growing Sci Fi genre and also fielded some online fan questions. Among the few questions that were fielded,my question to actor David Blue[ Eli Wallace] , was answered by the actor himself. Be sure to watch it all in the complete interview below and stay tuned on the blog , throughout the next couple of days as we will have reports and a autographed cast photo from both the Canada AM event and the SGU – InnerSpace event.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV7AFEhEIxk]

What are your thoughts on the video and particularly to Blue’s answer to my question?Did you have another favourite part?Sound off in the comments section!